Dirkou From United States, joined Jun 2003, 488 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 5244 times:
Listen to TAF/METAR, do ATC, prepare the approach, do paper-work, talk with the cabin crew and the captain, on airways look for other traffic. It is possible to have something to do on every minute of a 12 hours flight...
PhilSquares From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 5114 times:
Sure are some strange answers. Listening to TAF/METAR??? What about reading it via ACARS?
For me on the long haul 12+ hours you have to remember, you'll only be in the seat for half the flight. But I always make sure I have a good book to read. There is the mundane chores of ATC and keeping the flight plan. Flying across the N. Atlantic with CPDLC is really boring. There is ADS-B, which is synthetic radar and no position reports are required. So, it's about a 3 1/2 hour break. Flying over the Indian Ocean is another story. There is plenty to do there as Mumbai radio is almost impossible to contact.
If the F/O is a decent sort of person, there is always the endless converstations. Now days, with the increased security, there isn't quite the interaction between the cabin crew and cockpit.
XFSUgimpLB41X From United States, joined Aug 2000, 3265 posts, RR: 32 Reply 6, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 5055 times:
I think they were talking about the constant interaction between the pilots and ATC. On a typical flight, you are constantly in contact with ATC as you are "handed off" to the next controller covering the airspace you are flying through.
ALL views, opinions expressed are mine ONLY and are NOT representative of those shared by Southwest Airlines Co.
BlueShamu330s From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2001, 1968 posts, RR: 28 Reply 11, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 4720 times:
Quoting PhilSquares (Reply 5): Sure are some strange answers. Listening to TAF/METAR???
LOL
Always alot of decisions to be made
Agreed on the good book..... or a handfull of newspapers.
"You got 5 across yet?"
"Nah, you?"
"Nah"
...cheeseboard...dessert...cheeseboard...dessert
oh the strain of it all
And when I was on the 330s at MAN, there was always the flight deck lottery to guess how long we'd be held short of stand after landing.
And, personally, I have to watch the coffee intake
So I drive a 4x4. So what?! Tax the a$$ off me for it...oh, you already have... :-(
CosmicCruiser From United States, joined Feb 2005, 1573 posts, RR: 13 Reply 12, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 4580 times:
Quoting PhilSquares (Reply 5): There is plenty to do there as Mumbai radio is almost impossible to contact.
I'll second that, PhilSquares! And in some cases you must contact 2 or 3 agencies at once. Not one of my fav routes.
Mostly I take a good book and wait for my time to sleep.
Quoting PhilSquares (Reply 5): If the F/O is a decent sort of person, there is always the endless converstations.
It's amazing what a difference a friendly, compatible F/O makes. It can turn a long trip into a much shorter one.
ANITIX87 From Switzerland, joined Mar 2005, 2504 posts, RR: 13 Reply 13, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 4496 times:
Are pilots and F/O's paired permanently? Or do you always fly with different partners. Because I would have thought that the international rules of flight-time versus rest-time would lead pilots and FO's to fly together constantly. Along similar lines, are pilots required to train for every route an airline flies with the aircraft they are certified for? Or can they just sent you to a random location for the first time with short notice? I've always wondered if flying to a new airport is nerve-racking, or if every airport is the same exact thing except for the approach path.
CosmicCruiser From United States, joined Feb 2005, 1573 posts, RR: 13 Reply 14, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 4379 times:
Quoting ANITIX87 (Reply 13): Are pilots and F/O's paired permanently?
No, just for that pairing. Here, pilots can trade trips so even though a capt. and f/o are awarded a month's line, seldom do they stay together for the whole month. Factor vacation/sick replacements too.
Quoting ANITIX87 (Reply 13): Along similar lines, are pilots required to train for every route an airline flies with the aircraft they are certified for? Or can they just sent you to a random location for the first time with short notice?
Speaking ONLY for the co. I fly for, during IOE a new capt. or F/O is given one N. Atlantic trip (mandatory) and sometimes a Pacific trip ;then you can fly any route that a/c flies. If you're new or haven't flown a particular place in a while it's always smart to do a little reading before you go.
Quoting ANITIX87 (Reply 13): I've always wondered if flying to a new airport is nerve-racking, or if every airport is the same exact thing except for the approach path.
There are different procedures for different airports regarding such things as initial callup, taxi, app and dept. speeds, etc. This info is readily available from the Jepp plates and/or co. published int'l manuals.
Most every country has a different transition alt/level which can bite you if you're not careful and controller language problems always require close attention.
Chrisjake From United States, joined Jul 2004, 830 posts, RR: 2 Reply 15, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 4167 times:
my buddy is a captain on a 747F and he says that while on long flights the crew likes to use the galley to bake cookies and snacks and also watch DVD movies on their laptops.
chris
Well nothing's dead down here, just a little tired
Starlionblue From Greenland, joined Feb 2004, 13369 posts, RR: 65 Reply 16, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 4155 times:
Quoting DLKAPA (Reply 1): I've heard of one pilot who rips out his laptop and sims in a Cessna.
This begs the question. How do you get power (FS uses a lot of CPU so battery life is crap)? Are there 12V (or 110v or 240v) outlets in the cockpit?
I once saw an interview with an AC F/O: "People ask me: 'Don't you get bored?'. I always answer 'Boring is good. You want boring'". I can see his point . His colleague (the Captain) pointed out that the pilot flying will always be scanning the instruments, even while talking or whatever.
Tact Is For People Who Aren't Witty Enough To Be Sarcastic
ZOTAN From United States, joined Jan 2005, 547 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 3753 times:
One of my dads friends is a 777 pilot at Delta. He will sleep sometimes while in the cockpit, but the copilot is awake while he is. Calls it dozing for dollars. He also will just play cards, talk to the F/O, eat, etc.
CURLYHEADBOY From Italy, joined Feb 2005, 871 posts, RR: 2 Reply 21, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 3372 times:
A couple of naive questions:
Is it good sleep that you have in the crew rest, or is it more like napping and getting awake every now and then?
Also, do you bring your own alarm clock or does someone wakes you up when it's your turn to go on duty?
If God had wanted men to fly he would have given them more money...
AirWillie6475 From United States, joined Jan 2005, 2446 posts, RR: 1 Reply 22, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 3360 times:
Who knows what cargo pilots do as there is no one there to monitor them. On times when there are light loads or no loads they probably play soccer with the left over space on the cabin while rookie FO has to handle ATC.
Dirkou From United States, joined Jun 2003, 488 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 2948 times:
>PhilSquares: "Sure are some strange answers. Listening to TAF/METAR??? What about reading it via ACARS?"
There a lots of airlines that do not have ACARS activated on their long-haul aircraft. Mine is one of them. I say activated because the equipment is there...
Dirkou From United States, joined Jun 2003, 488 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 2929 times:
And you forgot airlines that do have ACARS but only on VHF (no satellite). So if you are crossing the North Atlantic without VHF coverage and you have to divert how will you know the last meteo for the alternate airport?
Fly727 From Mexico, joined Jul 2003, 1768 posts, RR: 20 Reply 25, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 2837 times:
Q. Pilots - What Do You Do On Long Flights?
A. Zzzzzz...... zzzzzz....... zzzzzzz......
Seriously; when paired up with two other good friends/co-workers (I fly a three-pilots aircraft) we listen to music, eat and read magazines. We do pretty much everything you do back there when you're a passenger -and even more-.
RM
There are no stupid questions... just stupid people!
26 FlyMIA: On many long haul flights over oceans planes most of the time not in radar contact with ATC and only give postion reports. They will contact a center
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. His colleague (the Captain) pointed out that the pilot flying will always be scanning the instruments, even while talking or whatever.
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